Stand alone integrated cushion

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a stand alone integrated mattress. The system has a self-contained mattress unit, at least one inflatable bladder, at least one fluid source, at least one dispersion unit and at least one control unit. The self-contained mattress unit has at least a head section and a foot section, and is capable of converting from a horizontal position or an inclined position to a chair-like conformation. There is at least one inflatable bladder in each section of the self-contained mattress unit. There is also at least fluid source. In addition there is at least one dispersion unit in each section and each dispersion unit provides a fluid, obtained from the fluid source, to a conduit which directs the fluid into the inflatable bladder positioned in the section of the dispersion unit. The control system is positioned in one of the sections and interconnected to each dispersion unit to control the dispersion of the fluid to the inflatable bladders in each section.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is directed to a cushion unit capable ofhaving a portion of the cushion raised and lowered in relation to atleast other portions of the cushion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Gaymar Industries, Inc., the assignee of this application, is amanufacturer of cushion like devices. These cushions which have at leastone bladder are designed to contain fluids. In many cases the fluid isaqueous solutions and/or air. These cushions are used as seat cushions,mattresses, overlays and any other cushion designed to have a patientpositioned thereon. Most of the cushions made by Gaymar are designed fortherapeutic purposes.

[0003] Inflatable therapeutic cushions for patients have been known formany years. Many therapeutic cushions are designed to reduce “interfacepressures”; the pressure encountered between a cushion and a patient'sskin positioned on the cushion. It is known that interface pressures cansignificantly affect the well-being of immobile patients in that higherinterface pressures can reduce local blood circulation, tending to causebed sores and other complications. With inflatable cushions, suchinterface pressures depend (in part) on the air pressure within theinflatable support cushions.

[0004] There are numerous types of inflatable cushion designs. Thesedesigns have combinations of bladders that can (1) vibrate, (2) rotate,(3) create wave motions, (4) provide percussion, (5) provide support,and (6) combinations thereof (hereinafter referred to as “Objectives”)to a user of the cushion. These designs have been incorporated innumerous cushion designs by Gaymar Industries, Inc. as of the filing ofthis application.

[0005] In particular, those cushion designs have been used in numerousGaymar mattress systems. Those mattress systems 200, as illustrated inFIG. 1, have at least one inflatable bladder capable of performing anObjective 210, a control unit 220, and a conduit 230 that interconnectsthe control unit 220 to the inflatable bladder(s) 210. The control unit220 can be outside the mattress system 200 (not shown) or within themattress system 200, as illustrated in FIG. 1. For purposes of thisapplication, we will only address those mattress systems that have thecontrol unit within the mattress system.

[0006] We are making this limitation because the present invention isdirected solely to self-contained mattress systems. Self-containedmattress systems are preferred in hospital settings because they areeasier to clean—no disconnecting of hoses from the control unit and thebladder(s).

[0007] Self-contained mattress systems have the control unit 220normally and preferably at the foot of the system 240, a plurality ofbladders 210 designed to accomplish at least one Objective, and aplurality of conduits 230 that interconnect the bladders 210 to thecontrol unit 230. In all prior Gaymar mattress systems and those knownto Gaymar, there is a single control unit 220.

[0008] That single control unit 220, as illustrated in FIG. 2, has aplurality of input keys 221 interconnected to at least a microprocessor222. That microprocessor 222 is at least interconnected to pumps, fans,valves and/or switches 223 that push, pull and/or allow (by potentialenergy contained in the bladder(s)) a fluid through the conduits 230 andthe bladder(s) 210. The fluid is contained within a reservoir and/orambient environment 224. In any case, the fluid is used in therespective bladder to obtain the desired Objective.

[0009] There are numerous problems with such self-contained mattresssystems 200. One of these problems is that such mattress systems canremain horizontal 201 and/or incline from the horizontal position 201 toabout a 45° incline 202 relative to the horizontal position 201 and froma bend point 203. The mattress systems with the above-identifiedtechnology is unable to effectively and reliably continue to obtain theObjectives and simultaneously convert the mattress system from ahorizontal position to a chair-like position (having an angle greaterthan 75° (line 75) and less than 180° (line 180) relative to thehorizontal position and taken from the bend point 203, and hereinafterreferred to as the “Conversion”).

[0010] Conventional mattress systems are unable to reliably make theConversion because the one control unit, normally positioned at and/ornear one of the ends 235, 240, has a plurality of conduits extending thelength (L) of the mattress system 200. When the mattress system isconverted from the horizontal position 201 and/or the inclined position201 to a chair like conformation (greater than 75°) the conduits 230kink, become deformed, and do not properly transfer the desired amountof fluid to the bladder(s) 210. And if the bladder(s) 210 fail toreceive the desired amount of fluid, the bladder(s) 210 do not completeits Objective.

[0011] The present invention solves this problem and others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present invention is directed to a stand alone integratedmattress. The system has a self-contained mattress unit, at least oneinflatable bladder, at least one fluid source, at least one dispersionunit and at least one control unit. The self-contained mattress unit hasat least a head section and a foot section, and is capable of convertingfrom a horizontal position or an inclined position to a chair-likeconformation. There is at least one inflatable bladder in each sectionof the self-contained mattress unit. There is also at least fluidsource. In addition there is at least one dispersion unit in eachsection and each dispersion unit provides a fluid, obtained from thefluid source, to a conduit which directs the fluid into the inflatablebladder positioned in the section of the dispersion unit. The controlsystem is positioned in one of the sections and interconnected to eachdispersion unit to control the dispersion of the fluid to the inflatablebladders in each section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a prior art illustration of a conventional inclinableand/or horizontal mattress system.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a prior art schematic of how the mattress system of FIG.1 operates.

[0015]FIG. 3 illustrates the present invention.

[0016]FIG. 4 illustrates the schematic of how the present inventionoperates.

[0017]FIGS. 5a-e illustrate alternative embodiments of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0018] The present invention is directed to a mattress system 10 capableof being converted from the horizontal position 201 to a chair-likeposition 205, which has an angle of greater than 75° relative to thehorizontal position 201 and the bend point 203. That in itself is notnovel. There are plenty of such Conversion mattress systems and themechanics of how the system moves from one position to another positionis well known to those of skill in the art and therefore is not a partof the scope of this application. None of the conversion mattresssystems, however, are self-contained systems that use inflatablebladders. The reasons are simple, self-contained mattress systems thatuse conduits kink, and disrupt the fluid dynamics in the conduits 230 tothe inflatable bladders 210. That problem is solved by the presentinvention.

[0019] The present Conversion mattress system 10 has at least twoinflatable bladders 210 a, 210 b and each is capable of performing anObjective, the same or different. The first inflatable bladder 210 a islocated at and/or between the distal end 235 and at least one of thebend point(s) 203; while the second inflatable bladder 210 b is locatedat and/or between the proximal end 240 and at least one of the bendpoint(s) 203. The inflatable bladders 210 a, 210 b are capable ofperforming the Objective when each inflatable bladder receives a fluid.Each inflatable bladder 210 a, 210 b receives the fluid through aconduit 230 a,b from at least one of two fluid dispersion units 227 a,227 b. The fluid is obtained from a reservoir 224 a,b. The reservoirs224 a,b can be the same or different and can provide the same ordifferent fluids. The fluids can be an aqueous solution and/or a gas,like air.

[0020] The dispersion units 227 a is positioned at or near the distalend 235, and the dispersion unit 227 b is positioned at or near theproximal end 240. They are positioned near the ends 235, 240 because thenormal human being who will be using the Stand alone integrated mattresssystem 10 applies and receives the least amount of pressure at thesepositions.

[0021] By having two dispersion units 227 a,b the present invention (1)decreases the length of the conduit 230 a,b to the respective bladder(s)210 a,b from the dispersion unit 227 a,b, (2) generates less vibration,heat, and noise (less distance to push and/or pull the fluid), (3)decreases the chances of kinks and air occlusion in the conduits 230a,b, and (4) increases the reliability of the inflatable bladders 210a,b in the self-contained with inflatable bladder stand alone integratedmattress system 10. The two dispersion units 227 a,b are interconnectedtogether through a control system 229. The control system 229 merelyincorporates the input system 221 and the microprocessor unit 222 of theconventional control unit 220. Except in the present system 10, thecontrol system 229 transmits its signals that control the units 223 a,bthrough respective transmission lines 228 a,b. Transmission lines 228a,b can become kinked and not adversely affect (1) the transmission ofthe signal from the microprocessor 222 to the dispersion units 227 a,b,and (2) the operation of the system 10 when it converts from thehorizontal position 201 to anything up to and including the chair-likeposition 205. Obviously, the control system 229 can be incorporated withthe either dispersion unit 227 a or dispersion unit 227 b.Alternatively, each dispersion unit 227 a,b could have control system229, but that is undesired because it increases the cost of the unit andthe technical ability to operate the system.

[0022] In addition, the input system 221 can have various designs. Theinput system 221 can be an integrated part of a control system box 229 awhich contains at least the microprocessor 222 and possibly thedispersion units 227 a,b, as illustrated in FIG. 5a. This type of systemis commonly used in conventional self-contained incline mattresssystems, FIG. 1. The input system 221 can be electrically hinged 250 tothe system box 229 a, as illustrated in FIG. 5b. Alternatively, theinput system 221 can be electrically tethered 255 to the system box 229a, as illustrated in FIG. 5c. In another embodiment, the input system221 can be electronically slaved to the system box 229 a. An example ofbeing electrically slaved to the system box 229 a includes and notlimited to the input system 221 having a daughter SIMM board unit 270extending from therefrom that is keyed only to fit into a particularSIMM socket 272 of control box 229 a, and a master SIMM socket 274 toreprogram through a computer system 99, if necessary, the input of theinput unit 221, as illustrated in FIG. 5d. It is understood that themattress system 10, 200 will not operate if the input unit 221 is notinstalled in the particular SIMM socket 272. Another alternativeembodiment, has the input unit 221 transmit a conventional remote signal281, like rf or ir, to a respective receiver 280 on the control box 229a, as illustrated in FIG. 5e.

[0023] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not solimited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions andequivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by theappended claims.

1. A stand alone integrated mattress comprising: a self-containedmattress unit having at least a head section and a foot section, andcapable of converting from a horizontal position or an inclined positionto a chair-like conformation; at least one inflatable bladder in eachsection of the self-contained mattress unit; at least one fluid source;at least one dispersion unit in each section and each dispersion unitprovides a fluid, obtained from the fluid source, to a conduit whichdirects the fluid into the inflatable bladder positioned in the sectionof the dispersion unit; a control system positioned in one of thesections and interconnected to each dispersion unit to control thedispersion of the fluid to the inflatable bladders in each section. 2.The stand alone integrated mattress of claim 1 wherein the at least onefluid source is ambient air.
 3. The stand alone integrated mattress ofclaim 1 wherein the at least one fluid source is selected from the groupconsisting of a reservoir, ambient air and combinations thereof.
 4. Thestand alone integrated mattress of claim 1 wherein the fluid is selectedfrom the group consisting of air and an aqueous solution.
 5. The standalone integrated mattress of claim 1 wherein the inflatable bladders arecapable of vibrating, rotating, creating wave motions, providing notdirect percussion, providing support, and combinations thereof to a userof the mattress.
 6. The stand alone integrated mattress of claim 1wherein the control system has an input unit that allows an operator toinput data to control at least the inflation and/or deflation of theinflatable bladders.
 7. The stand alone integrated mattress of claim 6wherein the input unit is interconnected to the control unit as anintegrated component thereof.
 8. The stand alone integrated mattress ofclaim 6 wherein the input unit is interconnected to the control unit bya tethered electrical connection.
 9. The stand alone integrated mattressof claim 6 wherein the input unit is interconnected to the control unitthrough an electrically connected hinge.
 10. The stand alone integratedmattress of claim 6 wherein the input unit has a SIMM daughter boardthat interconnects to the control unit.
 11. The stand alone integratedmattress of claim 6 wherein the input unit transmits a remote wirelesssignal to a receiver on the control unit.
 12. A stand alone integratedmattress comprising: a mattress unit having at least a head section anda foot section; at least one inflatable bladder in each section of theself-contained mattress unit; at least one fluid source; at least onedispersion unit in the mattress and the dispersion unit provides afluid, obtained from the fluid source, to a conduit which directs thefluid into the inflatable bladder; a control system positioned in one ofthe sections and interconnected to each dispersion unit to control thedispersion of the fluid to the inflatable bladders wherein the controlsystem has an input unit that allows an operator to input data tocontrol at least the inflation and/or deflation of the inflatablebladders wherein the input unit is selected from the group consisting ofthe input unit (1) is interconnected to the control unit by a tetheredelectrical connection, (2) transmits a remote signal to a receiver onthe control unit, (3) has a SIMM daughter board that interconnects tothe control unit, or (4) is interconnected to the control unit throughan electrically connected hinge.
 13. The mattress of claim 12 whereinthe mattress unit is a self-contained capable of converting from ahorizontal position or an inclined position to a chair-likeconformation; wherein each section has at least one dispersion unit andeach dispersion unit provides the fluid, obtained from the fluid source,to the conduit which directs the fluid into the inflatable bladderpositioned in the section of the dispersion unit; the control systempositioned in one of the sections and interconnected to each dispersionunit to control the dispersion of the fluid to the inflatable bladdersin each section.
 14. The mattress of claim 13 wherein at least one fluidsource is ambient air.
 15. The mattress of claim 13 wherein the at leastone fluid source is selected from the group consisting of a reservoir,ambient air and combinations thereof.
 16. The mattress of claim 13wherein the fluid is selected from the group consisting of air and anaqueous solution.
 17. The mattress of claim 13 wherein the inflatablebladders are capable of vibrating, rotating, creating wave motions,providing percussion, providing support, and combinations thereof to auser of the mattress.